Speedometer
noun
1.
an instrument on an automobile or other vehicle for indicating the rate of travel in miles or kilometers per hour.
noun
1.
a device fitted to a vehicle to measure and display the speed of travel See also mileometer
speedometer
(spĭ-dŏm’ĭ-tər)
An instrument for indicating the speed of a vehicle, typically by measuring the rate of rotation of a wheel or fan whose rate of rotation depends on the speed of the vehicle. Compare odometer.
A pattern of lights displayed on a linear set of LEDs (today) or nixie tubes (yesterday, on ancient mainframes). The pattern is shifted left every N times the operating system goes through its main loop. A swiftly moving pattern indicates that the system is mostly idle; the speedometer slows down as the system becomes overloaded. The speedometer on Sun Microsystems hardware bounces back and forth like the eyes on one of the Cylons from the wretched “Battlestar Galactica” TV series.
Historical note: One computer, the GE 600 (later Honeywell 6000) actually had an *analog* speedometer on the front panel, calibrated in instructions executed per second.
[Jargon File]
Read Also:
- Speed ramp
noun 1. (Brit) a raised band across a road, designed to make motorists reduce their speed, esp in built-up areas
- Speed-read
verb (used with or without object), speed-read [speed-red] /ˈspidˌrɛd/ (Show IPA), speed-reading [speed-ree-ding] /ˈspidˌri dɪŋ/ (Show IPA) 1. to read faster than normal, especially by acquired techniques of skimming and controlled eye movements.
- Speed-shop
noun, Automotive Informal. 1. a garage that specializes in fitting cars, especially hot rods, with custom-made mechanical equipment for racing.
- Speed-skate
noun 1. racing skate.
- Speed-skating
or speedskating noun 1. ice skating as a form of racing, usually on an oval course and against other competitors or the clock. speed skating noun 1. a form of ice skating in which contestants race against each other or the clock over various distances